Partner’s Perceived Social Support Influences Their Spouse’s Inflammation: An Actor–Partner Analysis

Social support has been linked to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, most studies have examined perceived support as an intrapersonal construct. A dyadic approach to social support highlights how interdependence between individuals within relationships, including partner perceptions and interactions, can influence one’s health. This study’s overall purpose was to test actor–partner models linking perceived social support to inflammation. Ninety-four cisgender married couples completed perceived support measures and had their blood drawn for CRP and IL-6 to produce an overall inflammatory index. The primary results indicate that only a partner’s level of perceived support was related to lower inflammation in their spouse. Our sample size, although moderate for inflammatory studies, was probably not large enough to detect actor influences. These data highlight the importance of taking a dyadic perspective on modeling perceived support and its potential mechanism.

The relationship between postpartum social support and attitudes towards breastfeeding: A cultural perspective

Aim: This study intends to provide an analysis of the relationship between postpartum social support and women’s breastfeeding attitudes from different cultural perspectives. Method: This study was conducted between April-September 2019.The study population comprised of 430 women with 4-24 week old babies who visited health centers in the provinces of Adıyaman (Region 1), Kahramanmaraş (Region 2) and Malatya (Region 3). Findings: The mean scores of women from the BAES were 105.54 ± 13.16 in Region 1, 103.30 ± 15.77 in Region 2, and 99.46 ± 13.47 in Region 3 (P<0.05).The mean scores of women from the “Importance of the Need” subscale on the PSQ were 157.38±45.57 in Region 1, 140.73±55.18 in Region 2, and 144.89±48.144 in Region 3 (P<0.05).The mean scores of women from the “Support Received” subscale on the PSQ were 112.39±51.58 in Region 1; 116.87±52.69 in Region 2, and 108.89±50.79 in Region 3 (P>0.05).In Region 2, a significant and positive correlation was found between the subscales “Importance of the Need” and the “Perceived Support” on the BAES and the PSQ (r=0.259, r=0.255, P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: A comparison of the relationship between postpartum social support and attitudes towards breastfeeding revealed major differences between the Regions.

USA and Portuguese Young Adolescents’ Perceived Qualities and Satisfaction in Their Relationships with Mothers, Fathers and Best-Friends

Background: Few researchers have examined young adolescents’ perceived qualities and satisfaction in their relationships with their mothers, fathers and best friends simultaneously, using a cross-cultural perspective. This study aimed to compare the perceived qualities and satisfaction of USA and Portuguese adolescents in their relationships with their parents and best friends and to examine the influence of perceived relationship qualities on the satisfaction of young adolescents with their close relationships. Methods: The sample consisted of 347 USA adolescents (170 boys, 177 girls) and 360 Portuguese adolescents (176 boys, 184 girls) who completed the Network of Relationships Inventory Social Provision Version to assess perceived support, negativity, power balance and satisfaction in their relationships with their mothers, fathers and same-sex best friends. Results: Adolescents from both countries perceived their relationships with parents to be more negative and imbalanced in power than their relationships with friends, but the magnitude of differences was greater in the USA. Furthermore, USA adolescents reported higher satisfaction in their relationships with friends than in their relationships with parents. Country differences in the concomitants of relationship satisfaction were found. Conclusions: These findings support the notion that young adolescents’ perceived qualities and satisfaction in close relationships may differ depending on cultural norms.

The Relationship between Social Support, Self-Efficacy and Characteristics of Women with Diabetes during Pregnancy

Background: One of the most common metabolic complications of pregnancy are carbohydrate metabolism disorders resulting in hyperglycemia. The aim of the study was the assessment of impact of socio-demographic variables on the levels of social support and self-efficacy and an investigation of whether there is and how the relationship between social support and self-efficacy is shaped in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. In this study 339 pregnant women with diabetes during pregnancy and 337 healthy pregnant women took part. Methods: The Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and a standardized interview questionnaire were used. Results: The respondents rated Perceived Instrumental Support higher (M = 3.52) than Perceived Emotional Support (M = 3.39). In contrast, Actually Received Support (M = 3.53) was rated higher compared to Support Seeking (M = 2.99) and Need for Support (M = 2.95). The mean generalized self-efficacy score was M = 31.58 in women with diabetes during pregnancy and M = 31.85 in healthy pregnant women. Conclusions: The research results obtained prove the existence of a relationship between GSES and BSSS scores. In pregnant women with diabetes and healthy pregnant women, GSES increases with an increase in perceived support. Additionally, among pregnant women with diabetes, the level of GSES increases with an increase in actually received support. However, in the case of healthy pregnant women, a lower level of need for support is associated with higher level of generalized self-efficacy.

Bereavement behind bars: Grief support groups with and without therapy dogs for incarcerated females

Grief is a universal experience; however not everyone experiences grief and loss in the same way. People who are incarcerated are often informed of losses via phone, are unable to attend funeral services or participate in supportive rituals, and can have difficulty expressing feelings in a place where showing emotion can be dangerous. Being unable to obtain support and process grief and loss may contribute to impaired functioning. In this study of bereavement support for women in prison, incarcerated women with recent or unresolved losses (n=32) were randomly assigned to grief support groups with therapy dogs (animal-assisted, AA) or without therapy dogs (non-AA). Pre- and post-test measures of bereavement symptoms and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) were obtained. This study shows that AA groups had more significant decreases in symptoms, lower rates of post-group diagnostic criteria for PGD and higher rates of perceived support/benefit from the groups.

An Eight-Year Followup Study after Heart Transplantation: The Relevance of Psychosocial and Psychiatric Background

A heart transplantation (HT) is performed when a patient’s heart health has been severely compromised. However, the health care needs of a patient throughout the transplantation process are also significant. In order to investigate these postoperative heart transplant challenges, this study has two objectives: to find which psychosocial and psychiatric variables relate to good prognosis at the end of the followup period and to assess cognitive status and quality of life at the end of the study. Therefore, we divided the sample according to the completion success and then studied and compared the differences in participants’ personality, coping mechanisms, locus of control, clinical, and epidemiological information. Cognitive function and quality of life assessments were also undertaken for participants who completed their followup period. Higher significant differences were found in openness to experience (personality), self-perceived support (locus of control), and positive reinterpretation (coping) among those who completed the followup period. On the other hand, a higher age and current or historical psychiatric diagnoses were more prevalent in the group who did not complete the followup period. Our assessment of the participants after the followup period showed normal levels of cognitive function and quality of life.

Binge Eating and Binge Drinking in Emerging Adults During COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: An Examination of Protective and Risk Factors

This study investigated binge behaviors during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, exploring individual and contextual risk factors. Participants were 1925 emerging adults ( M age = 24.18, SD age = 2.75; 71.9% women), recruited during the national lockdown in Italy. An online survey investigated binge behaviors both prior and during quarantine. Binge drinking significantly diminished during quarantine, while binge eating episodes did not vary in frequency. However, participants with pre-existent binge eating disorder (BED) reported a worsening in BED symptoms. Lower education, lower SES, job suspension due to lockdown, and higher pandemic-related stress were associated to an increase in binge behaviors during home confinement, whereas living with family was a protective factor. Participants reporting co-occurrent binge behaviors also had significantly higher pandemic-related stress and lower perceived support during home confinement, in comparison with no-binge participants. The study provides new insights about protective and risk factors for binge behaviors in emerging adults during COVID-19 lockdown.

Association of Social Relationships and Depression Among Older Mexican Adults: Does a Rural or Urban Context Matter?

Social characteristics such as strong community and family ties have been associated with positive mental health outcomes in older adults. However, this evidence is based primarily on non-Hispanic White populations and may vary according to living in a rural versus urban community. We hypothesize that the positive impact of available social networks, perceived support, and social participation on older Mexican adults’ likelihood for high depressive symptoms (i.e., depression) will be greater for those living in rural (community &lt; 2,500 people) than urban communities. Data came from the 2012 Wave of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Depressive symptoms were measured using a 9-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Social participation is the respondent’s self-reported participation in hobbies, religious activities, volunteering, and visits with neighbors. Available social network is measured as having relatives and/or good friends living in the neighborhood. Perceived support is the respondent’s perception of friends/family’s willingness to help with finances and personal care. The final sample of 6,266 respondents was majority (62.4%) female, mean age of 69 years, 17.8% lived in a rural community, and 34.5% with depression. Logistic regression models stratified by rural/urban indicated that available social network and perceived social support were not associated with depression in rural or urban communities. In general, the social participation activities were associated with significantly lower odds of depression for older adults living in urban but not rural communities. This research highlights the influence of older adults’ community on their social relationships and mental health.

Social Isolation Patterns and Health Outcomes in Midlife and Later Life

Conceptualizing social isolation as a multidimensional construct encompassing social networks, social contacts, perceived support and loneliness, this research aims to: (1) identify patterns of social isolation trajectory among middle-aged and older adults in the U.S.; (2) investigate how different patterns of social isolation trajectory are related to adults’ physical, mental, cognitive, and overall health. Latent class growth modeling was used to examine social isolation trajectory patterns over nine years in a national sample of 6,457 adults aged 51+. Four patterns of social isolation trajectory were identified: severely isolated, moderately isolated, subjectively integrated, and objectively integrated. The objectively integrated group reported the best physical, mental, cognitive, and overall health, whereas the severely isolated group reported the worst. The moderately isolated and subjectively integrated groups fell in between, with the latter displaying relatively better health outcomes. Findings support a close relationship between poor health and long-term social isolation.